Spark indicator for internal-combustion engines



Feb. 17, 1931. J. F. DORGAN SPARK INDICATOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Oct. l7 1927 INVENTOR FDorgan (f AT'IO EY plugs are in operating condition.

Patented i-eaiv, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JEREMIAH F. DOB-GAN,' OF BROOKLYN, YORK, ASSIGNOR OF SIXTY-FIVE PER CENT TO MAX RANDALL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK SPARK INDICATOR FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES- Application filed October 17, 1927. Serial No. 226,776.

This invention relates to spark indicators for internal combustion engines, and hasfor its primary object to provide a device of simple construction easily applicable to motor vehicles to provide a positive indication of the presence of a sufliciently high potential for the completion of the spark producing circuit for exploding the charge in the engine cylinders and the proper functioning of the ignition system of the motor when the spark More particularly in a practical embodiment of the invention, I propose to provide a plurality of electrically actuated indicating devices, onefor each of the motor cylinders suitably mounted and arranged upon the .in-

sti ument board of the vehicle, and means whereby the excess electrical emanations from the respective spark plugs of the motor may be utilized for the purpose of energizing the indicator actuating devices.

With the above and other objects in view,

the invention consists in the improved spark indicator for internal combustion engines, and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of the various parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims. In the drawing, wherein I,have illustrated one simple and practical embodiment of my present improvements, and in which sim lar reference characters'designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a sectional diagrammatic view showing parts of the motor ignition system and the application of my invention in connection therewith; A i

Fig. 2 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken onthe line Referring in detail to the drawings, in which I have more or less diagrammatically illustrated the essential parts of the ignition system, 5 designates a conventional distributor, which distributes the current of high voltage supplied by the usual transformer or coil to the several spark plugs of the motor,

one of which is indicated at 6. The spark plugs also may be of the usual type, each plug consisting of an outer metal. shell threaded into an opening in the cylinder head and an insulating body of porcelain or other material enclosing the central electrode, one end of which projects into the cylinder and cooperates with a projection from the end 155 of the spark plug shell, said electrode and projection being suitably spaced apart to provide the spark gap across which the current passes to the ground through the cyliiider wall; Owing to the very high voltage necessary to create a spark of the desired in tensity, there is a considerable discharge of excess current from the other end of the electrode or core of the spark plug. I propose to employ these electrical emanations from the respective spark plugs for the purpose of operating indicating devices mounted on the instrument board of the motor vehicle.

The indicating devices may be of various mechanical forms. As herein shown, I have illustrated a suitable casing or housing 7 fixed upon the face of the instrument board and. having a glass front plate 8 secured therein behind which the metal plate 9 is secured within said casing. This metal plate is provided with a plurality of openings of the engine cylinders and the face of the plate at one edge of each opening is provide? 1pith a suitable index mark indicated a Upon the opposite side of the instrument board 12, the indicator actuatin devices are mounted, each of said devices including a coil 13 of fine insulated copper wire wound upon a soft iron core 14. At one end of this core the permanent magnet 15 is arranged, said magnet and the coil 13, together with said core being supported and arranged within an insulating housing or casing 16.

.10 therein corresponding with the number A The magnetic action of the magnet on the core'14 causes the opposite end of sa1d core to attract and hold a. thin flat spring strip 17 in a normal position, said strip being suitably fixed at one of its ends as at 18 and having its other end extended through an opening in the instrument board 12 and through one of the openings 10 in the plate 9 and provided with an angularly bent finger 19 disposed over the face of said plate. It will therefore, be understood that when the spark plug is not functioning, or no current is being supplied thereto, the finger 19 will be steadily held in line with the index mark 11 of the indicator. 7

' The coil 13 of each indicator actuating device is connected by a wire or other form of conductor 20 with a soft iron disc 21, said discs being suitabl mounted upon a slab of insulating materia 22 which is mounted and supported in any suitable manner in spaced relation to the outer ends of the spark plugs, and preferably not less than two inches therefrom. Theconnection of the wires or conductors with the discs 22 may be conveniently made throu h suitable binding posts 23, the outer en s f said posts and the conductors being enclosed within a conduit or shield 24 of fiber or other suitablematerial.

It will thus be seen as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings that when the .high voltage current is transmitted to the spark plug the excess electrical energy is disseminated rom the outer end of the spark plug as indicated at E and is picked up by the soft iron disc 21 and transmitted to the coil 13 by conductor 20. Thus, the coil is charged with alternating current counteracting the magnetic pull of the core 14 and releasing the spring 17' which is normally held under a certain amount of tension, therefore causing the finger 19 at the free end of this spring to be deflected out of registering relation to the index mark 11. Thus, the operator of'the vehicle, by noting these regular movements of the indicator fingers 19 with respect to the index marks 11 is afforded a constant indication of the functioning of the ignition system and is instantly aware upon the cessation of such movement of any one of the indicating fingers of the particular spark plug which is not properly functioning. It will be seen that the application of m invention to standardtypes of motor vehic es requires no connections with either the engine cylinders or the spark plugs or any structural changes in the usual form of the spark plugs. Further, it will be noted that the several parts em loyed are of exceedingly simple constructlon so that they may be manufactured and sold at nominal cost and easily applied in operative position on the ordinary motor vehicle.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawto function as the movable element of the indicator, it will be apparent that this spring strip might be caused to actuate a separate indicator member, pivotally or otherwise, movable with respect to the indicator plate.-

Therefore, as to these and other detail variations in the several mechanical parts of my invention as herein referred to, it is to be understood that I reserve the privilege of embodying the same in all such alternative forms as may be fairly incorporated Within the spirit and scope ofthe invention {as claimed.

I claim 1. Spark indicating means for internal combustion en ines comprising a visual indicator including a movable element, electrically controlled magnetic means for actuating said movable element, and means for collecting electrical emanations from the spark plug of the engine and transmitting the same to said electricall controlled magnetic means to energize t e latter and effeet a movement of said indicator element from its normal position, said collecting means being disconnected from the electrical operating circuit of the plug.

2. Spark indicating means for internal combustion engines comprising an indicator for each of the engine c linders, each indicator including a mova 1e element means magnetically influencing said movable ele-- engine cylinders and transmitting the same to said electrically energizable means of the respective indicators, said collecting means being disconnected from the circuit of each plug. v

3. Spark indicating means for internal combustion engines including an indicator for each engine cylinder having a resili ently movable element and an indicating member movable thereby with respect to an index mark of the indicator, magnetic means normally holding said resilient element under tension to retain said indicating member in registration with the index mark, electrically energizable means for influencing said holding means to release said resilient element and thereby move said indicating member, and means for collecting and transmitting radiant electrical energy supplied to the spark plugs of the engine cyhnders to said electrically energizable means of the respective indicators to thereby effect a v movement of the indicating member upon each closing of the spark producing circuit, said collecting means being disconnected from the circuit of each plug.

4. Spark indicating means for internal combustion engines includin an indicating device for each engine cylinder having a movable indicating member and electrically energizable means for effecting movement of said member from a neutral position, a plurality of electrical current collectors insulated from each other and adapted to be arranged in spaced relation to the spark plugs of the respective engine cylinders to collect radiant electrical energy supplied thereto, said collectors being disconnected from the circuit of each plug and conductors connecting the respective collectors with the electrically energizable means of the respective indicators to charge the latter and effect movement of the indicating member upon each closing of the spark forming circuit. y

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereto.

JEREMIAH F. DORGAN, 

